Score: Oswego State 5, Elmira College 4
Records: Oswego State (1-2), Elmira (0-5)
Location: Laker Turf Stadium - Oswego, N.Y.

OSWEGO, N.Y. -- The Elmira College field hockey team turned in one of its best offensive performances in recent years on Wednesday afternoon against Oswego State, yet the Lakers overcame a 3-2 deficit in the second half to beat the Soaring Eagles, 5-4.

EC not only tallied a season-high four goals, but the Soaring Eagles outshot the host Lakers by a wide 35-to-16 margin, including a 29-to-10 advantage in shots on goal. While the four goals are the most goals scored by the Purple and Gold in a game since a 4-0 shutout over Keuka College last season, the 29 shots on goal represent the most by the Elmira women since October 21, 2013, the night the Soaring Eagles set a program scoring record in a 14-2 blowout of Cedar Crest College.

The Lakers scored the game's first goal in the sixth minute and took a 2-1 lead late in the 20th minute, but EC dominated possession in the final 15 minutes before halftime. The Soaring Eagles registered the all of the remaining shots taken before the intermission, including a penalty stroke. Although the penalty stroke was saved by Oswego State netminder Sarita Charap, Alison Mariano '18 managed to put a rebound passed Charap at the 29:00 mark to level the score at 2-all before the break.

The start of the second half was much of the same for Elmira. It took only 62 seconds for Kelsie Aloi '21 to collect her own rebound and fire it passed Charap. The rookie's first career goal gave the Soaring Eagles their first – and only – lead of the game at 3-2. EC had several chances to increase that lead, as the Purple and Gold were award five penalty corners and released 11 shots in a span of 7:52. But Charap, a former State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Rookie of the Year, withstood Elmira's offensive barrage and kept the Lakers within range to mount a comeback.

Although the game appeared one-sided for the first 16-plus minutes of the second half, the tides quickly turned in Oswego's favor. Monica Harvey orchestrated the comeback by assisting on Katie Reynolds' game-tying goal at 49:33, before burying the go-ahead goal about six minutes later. In the 64th minute, Harvey found Kendra Walker with a beautiful feed and the latter beat EC goalie Julie Hockenberger '18 five-hole for what proved to be a much-needed an insurance goal.

The Soaring Eagles were not without their own chances to overcome the late deficit. EC made it a one-goal difference, 5-4, with a mere 48 seconds remaining in regulation, as Katie Carroll '18 inserted a penalty corner to Emily Selbert '20, who knocked the ball into the cage for the second goal of her sophomore season. Looking to force overtime, Elmira was awarded a penalty corner with no time left on the clock, but was unable to get a shot off before the final whistle.

Charap posted an incredible 22 saves to lead the Lakers to their first victory of the 2017 campaign, while Harvey finished with a career-high seven points on two goals and three assists to pace the offense. For Elmira, five different players picked up two points, as Janie Kempf '21, Aloi, Mariano and Selbert each scored once, and Carroll earned a pair of assists.

News and Notes

• Elmira falls to 0-5 on the season following its third consecutive one-goal loss.
• Four goals mark a season-high for the Soaring Eagles and are the most since last year's 4-0 victory over Keuka.
• EC's 35 shots are the most recorded in a single game since finishing with 35 in a 3-0 win over Keuka during the 2015 season.
• 29 shots on goal are the most generated by an Elmira offense since October 21, 2013, when the Soaring Eagles scored a program-record 14 goals in a rout of Cedar Crest.
• Carroll tied her career high by dishing out two assists against the Lakers.
• Aloi tallied the first goal of her freshman season.
• Kempf, Mariano and Selbert each scored their second goal of the year and are in a three-way tie for the team lead with four points apiece.

Up Next
The Soaring Eagles return home to the Murray Athletic Center to host Empire 8 Conference foe, Washington and Jefferson College, on Saturday, September 16. The game is EC's second conference bout of the season and the final before embarking on a season-long four-game road trip.